[NTX_NTS] Field Day 2008

[Herman I. May]

FYI, this information was distributed to local clubs and organizations
likely to have Field Day stations.

********** Begin Included Text **********

Greetings!

As you finalize the details of your club or organization Field Day
station, please remember a couple of activities which will garner an
easy 200 points.

Though Field Day is not a contest, per se, the ARRL does provide
guidelines in the form of "Contest Rules" to enable participants to
gauge their preparedness and versatility. Part of the Emergency
Communications (EmComm) toolbox is th ability to reliably and
efficiently originate and pass message traffic. As in years past, the
ARRL makes provision within the rules to generously reward Field Day
stations for the handling of ARRL Radiogram messages.

# 7.3.6. Message Handling: 10 points for each formal NTS style
originated, relayed or received and delivered during the Field Day
period, up to a maximum of 100 points (ten messages). Properly
serviced copies of each message must be included with the Field Day
report. The message to the ARRL SM or SEC under Rule 7.3.6. does not
be count towards the total of 10 for this bonus. Available to all
Classes. All NTS messages claimed for bonus points must leave or enter
the site via amateur radio RF.

In addition, a participating individual, group or organization can
receive an additional 100 bonus points for creating and passing a
station report destined for the Section Manager (Tom Blackwell, N5GAR)
or Section Emergency Coordinator (Bill Swann, K5MWC).

# 7.3.5. Message Origination to Section Manager: 100 bonus points for
origination of a National Traffic System (NTS) style formal message to
the ARRL Section Manager or Section Emergency Coordinator by your
group from its site. You should include the club name, number of
participants, Field Day location, and number of ARES operators
involved with your station. The message must be transmitted during the
Field Day period and a fully serviced copy of it must be included in
your submission, in standard ARRL NTS format, or no credit will be
given. The Section Manager message is separate from the messages
handled in Rule 7.3.6. and may not be claimed for bonus points under
that rule. Available to all Classes.

The DFW Metroplex Traffic Net is the local NTS affiliate for the
greater North Texas region. Meeting twice every day, at 18:30 on
146.880/110.9 and 22:30 on 146.720/110.9, the net will be available to
serve as an outlet for handling any Radiogram messages generated by
your Field Day station.

As in years past, the net will also hold an ad hoc net on Sunday
morning to take any last minutes messages from stations unable to make
one of the regularly scheduled nets. This special net will begin at
11:00 on 146.880/110.9 and continue until 13:00, close of the local
Field Day operation window.

Keep in mind that the local NTSD outlet, the W5ROK PBBS, is another
option for handling your FD traffic. This machine is located on
145.010 and can be accessed by either standard packet telnet client or
mail clients such as Outpost.

For some of you, this information is nothing new; for others, it may
be a revelation. Either way, please remember that the DFW Metroplex
Traffic Net will be available to you as an outlet for handling
Radiogram messages from your Field Day Station. In fact, the net is
meets daily and is an excellent resource for learning the ins and outs
of message handling - a vital skill for every EmComm operator.

Thank you for your time and Good Luck with operations this weekend.

Herman

KE5HYW / ORS
Section Traffic Manager, NTX
net manager, DFW Metroplex Traffic Net
http://www.dfwtrafficnet.org/